GREENVILLE, Pa. - Marylandian -- Thiel College announced its new graduate degree program—a Master of Science in speech-language pathology—was awarded candidacy status by The Council of Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association, which allows the College to recruit and enroll students into the program.

"This stands as a historic moment for the College. This endorsement says the accreditation council is confident Thiel College is prepared, and we have met or exceeded the established candidacy standards," Thiel College President Susan Traverso, Ph.D., said. "We are proud and excited to have reached this new phase in the College's development and look forward to the life-changing opportunity this creates not only for our students and the College but for the region. Our students and graduates will be working in positions across the region."

With the approval, Thiel College (https://www.thiel.edu/) can begin enrolling graduate students in May 2020. Current and new undergraduate students in Thiel's communication sciences and disorders program will enjoy streamlined admission in the master's program and generous scholarship support.

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Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College Elizabeth Frombgen, Ph.D., said reaching this milestone has involved years of intensive development work by faculty and staff at the College. The Thiel College Board of Trustees approved the addition of a speech-language pathology master's degree in 2017. The accrediting agency came to Thiel College for a site visit and interviews with key personnel and conducted extensive reviews of the College's strategic plans and application materials.

Thiel College's program is open to students who have earned a Bachelor of Science in communication sciences disorders degree at Thiel College. Thiel College graduates without a degree in communication sciences and disorders and outside candidates who have completed prerequisite courses in communication sciences disorders are also eligible for the program with different application prerequisites and will be evaluated for admission on a case-by-case basis.

Students in the 15-month program will work and observe in an on-campus clinic. Students also will take a six-credit externship in a school and medical setting. The program has developed relationships with a vast array of partners, schools districts, medical facilities and long-term care facilities in northwestern/western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio.

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"Many graduate programs take two years to complete. We condensed our program by eliminating breaks and maximizing efficiencies," Frombgen said.

About Thiel College

Thiel College (https://www.thiel.edu/) is a private liberal arts institution founded in the Lutheran tradition. Located in Greenville, Pa., the College offers 60 majors and minors, 25 varsity sports, and an 11:1 student-faculty ratio to more than 900 students. A dedicated faculty paired with dynamic research and internship opportunities produce numerous graduate school and job placements. Coeducational from its beginnings, the College celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2016 and remains committed to combining tradition with innovation.